Research Access Before A Road Trip

Accessing life

Disabled Should Expect Inadequate Facilities At Some Stops

September 24, 1992|By Beverly Chapman

I'm on the road again.

This time my journey takes me to Toronto, Canada, by way of North Carolina, Virginia, Rhode Island and Niagara Falls. I'm traveling in my ''Star Wars Van,'' fully equipped with super-sensitive hand controls, a hydraulic lift and no driver seat - ready for me to glide behind the controls and terrorize the road.

Traveling by van or automobile, while not as fast as an airplane, can be advantageous for disabled travelers because once you get to your destination, you have your own specially equipped vehicle.

This mode of transportation can be convenient and pleasurable, but it still requires planning. You must locate accessible facilities throughout your trip - hotels, restaurants, parks, recreation facilities, attractions and historic landmarks. It is best to plan far enough in advance to contact local chambers of commerce, tourism bureaus and government offices. Although some areas of the country do a good job of providing accessibility information, others do not. With thorough research, you will know what you are up against before you get there.

Most hotel chains have brochures with information on their locations and amenities. Some hotels have a full spectrum of accessible amenities including wide doorways, high toilets, sinks with clear knee space, roll-in showers, telecommunication devices and flashing lights to signal hearing-impaired guests.

Special communication equipment enables deaf guests to use hotel telephones, to be aware of someone knocking at their door or telephoning their room, and of dangers such as a fire. For blind guests, hotels may provide menus and signs in Braille as well as changing floor textures to help people move about independently and safely.

A problem to watch for is inconsistency of access. Facilities can be more or less accessible depending on age, design, local regulations and hotel owner attitude. It is best to call the hotel directly before making your reservation. Talk to the manager on duty to get specific measurements of doorways and listings of equipment available to meet your needs.

But no matter how much planning and research you do, there are bound to be surprises, so expect them.

For our first night's stay on this trip, we chose an Econo Lodge in North Carolina listed in the hotel chain's brochure as being accessible. We saw an access symbol sticker on the front window, a wheelchair ramp and parking spaces for the disabled when we drove up. We were encouraged that this would be a barrier-free hotel.

We entered the lobby to check in, got our key, found our room and opened the door. Imagine our shock when we found wall-to-wall furniture, narrow doorways and no access to the bathroom. SNAFUed (situation normal - all fouled up) again! We got our money back, hopped into the van, and found a Comfort Inn down the road that had moderately accessible facilities. We checked in.

The next night we landed in Virginia at an Embassy Suites hotel and were pleasantly surprised at the reception and facilities. The staff in this Richmond hotel had received sensitivity training to the needs of guests with disabilities, and it showed in the level and quality of service they provided.

Some of this week's more memorable moments occurred when a truck driver's eyes nearly popped out when he realized that I, the one with the electric wheelchair and respirator, was doing the driving while my able-bodied companions ''came along for the ride.''

Then there was the look of fascination in the eyes of one group of international tourists who studied me with mouths gaping as I zipped through the hotel lobby, boarded my van by hydraulic lift and drove off with my stereo blasting Elvis Presley's classic, ''You Ain't Nothin' But a Hound Dog.''